Drawing by william alexander, draughtsman of the macartney embassy to china in 1793. Van-ta-zhin, an imperial officer, who was appointed to attend the british embassy for the duration of its stay in china in 1793. Alexander describes him as an amicable and generous man of bold character. He wears a peacock feather on his cap, which was an award for bravery in imperial china; a red globe of coral speaks his rank. He is represented in his usual, or undress, consisting of a short loose jacket of fine cotton, and an under vest of embroidered silk; from his girdle hang suspended his handkerchief, his knife and chopsticks in a case, and purses for tobacco; on his thumbs are two broad rings of agate, for the purpose of drawing the bowstring. Image taken from the costume of china, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in london in 1805. Date: circa 1800.
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